Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship
YOUNGSTARS CHILDCARE LIMITED
London, South Croydon, Wallington
Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026
Posted on 22 May 2026
Contents
Summary
Train as a Specialist Teaching Assistant, supporting children with additional needs while gaining hands-on classroom experience and working towards a recognised qualification. Ideal for someone caring, patient and passionate about helping pupils thrive.
- Wage
-
£20,000 a year
- Training course
- Specialist teaching assistant (level 5)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 3.00pm.
The apprentice may be required to work across multiple school settings in South London. Specific school placements may vary and will be confirmed with applicants.
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Friday 4 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
4
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
We are seeking a motivated and compassionate individual to join our organisation as a Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprentice. This role sits within our classroom support team and plays a vital part in supporting pupils with additional needs to access learning and thrive within the school environment.
The successful candidate will work closely with the Premier line manager, class teachers, the SENCo and wider support staff to provide targeted support for pupils, either on a one-to-one basis or within small groups. The role is designed to combine practical, hands-on experience in school with structured apprenticeship training, enabling the apprentice to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence required to progress within education or SEND support.
Key responsibilities include supporting learning activities, helping pupils to engage positively in the classroom, promoting independence and assisting with the implementation of individual support plans. The role may also involve supporting behaviour, social development and emotional wellbeing in line with school policies.
On a day-to-day basis, the apprentice will report to the class teacher and SENCo, working collaboratively with teaching assistants, teachers and pastoral staff. Full support, mentoring and training will be provided throughout the apprenticeship. This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about supporting children with additional needs and beginning a career in education.
Responsibilities of a Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprentice:
- Provide targeted support to pupils with additional needs, working one-to-one or in small groups as directed by the class teacher or
- SENCo
- Support pupils to access learning activities, adapt resources where appropriate, and encourage engagement and independence
- Assist with the implementation of individual support plans, behaviour strategies and learning interventions
- Promote positive behaviour, emotional wellbeing and inclusion in line with school policies
- Support pupils with social communication, emotional regulation and sensory needs where required
- Work collaboratively with teachers, teaching assistants and pastoral staff to support classroom learning
- Observe and record pupil progress, feeding back to the class teacher and SENCo as appropriate
- Assist with classroom preparation, resources and learning environments
- Supervise pupils during transitions, breaktimes or other structured activities as required
- Maintain confidentiality and follow safeguarding, SEND and data protection procedures at all times
- Engage fully with apprenticeship training, mentoring and professional development opportunities
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Dagnall Street, London, SW11 5DT
- Cotherstone Road, London, SW2 3NE
- Bynes Road, South Croydon, CR2 0PR
- 269 Croydon Road, Wallington, SM6 7LF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE EDUCATIONWISE ACADEMY LTD
Training course
Specialist teaching assistant (level 5)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Act in line with policies, processes, and procedures related to statutory frameworks and non-statutory guidance, including safeguarding, implementing the setting’s behaviour policy.
- Establish a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment for learners.
- Establish nurturing, effective working relationships with learners, parents or carers and stakeholders.
- Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity and sustainable development.
- Undertake dynamic risk assessment of the learning environment.
- Respond to and mitigate potential hazards that may adversely affect a learning environment.
- Contribute to the planning of learning and assessment activities.
- Apply teaching strategies to advance learning, for example scaffolding.
- Select and use safely, appropriate equipment and resources to advance learning.
- Apply an appropriate range of assessment methods, including formative, summative and individual needs-based assessments.
- Analyse assessment outcomes to inform reporting and future planning.
- Provide ongoing feedback to learners and support them to respond to feedback.
- Record and report information related to learners’ progress to a range of stakeholders.
- Collaborate with colleagues and other professionals.
- Advocate for and champion the needs of learners.
- Use a range of research to critically evaluate teaching and assessment approaches and practices.
- Critically evaluate a variety of teaching and assessment methods depending on the learning environments and learners’ needs.
- Improve own practice by undertaking continuous self-reflection including seeking and responding to feedback from varied sources.
- Update and maintain their own knowledge and skills as part of managing their own continuing professional development.
- Communicate information and analysis in a variety of forms to reflect the needs of the audience, for example by providing appropriate advice and guidance to parents or carers.
- Support the development of effective practices in others, for example through mentoring and coaching colleagues.
- Identify, action, and challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
- Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the appropriate actions required to minimise risks to professional well-being.
- Implement strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.
- Select and use technologies safely and effectively to promote learning.
- Prioritise and manage own workload, for example recognising the importance of capacity.
- Implement national and local SEND policy, practices, processes, and procedures.
- Apply approaches to the assessment and early identification of SEND.
- Apply strategies to adapt provision and practices to support learners with SEND.
- Implement national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to social and emotional well-being.
- Identify and signpost learners in need of social and emotional well-being intervention.
- Apply strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.
- Implement national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to the specific curriculum provision.
- Adapt planning and assessment to support learning and progress in the specific area of curriculum provision.
- Support colleagues by advocating for the specific curriculum provision.
- Act in line with policies, processes, and procedures related to statutory frameworks and non-statutory guidance, including safeguarding, implementing the setting’s behaviour policy.
- Establish a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment for learners.
- Establish nurturing, effective working relationships with learners, parents or carers and stakeholders.
- Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity and sustainable development.
- Undertake dynamic risk assessment of the learning environment.
- Respond to and mitigate potential hazards that may adversely affect a learning environment.
- Contribute to the planning of learning and assessment activities.
- Apply teaching strategies to advance learning, for example scaffolding.
- Select and use safely, appropriate equipment and resources to advance learning.
- Apply an appropriate range of assessment methods, including formative, summative and individual needs-based assessments.
- Analyse assessment outcomes to inform reporting and future planning.
- Provide ongoing feedback to learners and support them to respond to feedback.
- Record and report information related to learners’ progress to a range of stakeholders.
- Collaborate with colleagues and other professionals.
- Advocate for and champion the needs of learners.
- Use a range of research to critically evaluate teaching and assessment approaches and practices.
- Critically evaluate a variety of teaching and assessment methods depending on the learning environments and learners’ needs.
- Improve own practice by undertaking continuous self-reflection including seeking and responding to feedback from varied sources.
- Update and maintain their own knowledge and skills as part of managing their own continuing professional development.
- Communicate information and analysis in a variety of forms to reflect the needs of the audience, for example by providing appropriate advice and guidance to parents or carers.
- Support the development of effective practices in others, for example through mentoring and coaching colleagues.
- Identify, action, and challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.
- Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the appropriate actions required to minimise risks to professional well-being.
- Implement strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.
- Select and use technologies safely and effectively to promote learning.
- Prioritise and manage own workload, for example recognising the importance of capacity.
Training schedule
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade A*-C/4-9)
- Maths (grade A*-C/4-9)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Team working
- Patience
- Empathy
- Reliability
- Punctuality
- Safeguarding awareness
- SEND awareness
- Behaviour support
Other requirements
Candidates must be aged 18+. The successful applicant must be willing to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service, DBS, check.
Previous experience working with children or young people, particularly in an educational, childcare or support setting, would be desirable. Experience supporting children with Special Educational Needs, SEN, including ASD, ADHD, speech and language needs or SEMH, would also be beneficial.
Candidates with a relevant qualification or training in Childcare, Education, Health and Social Care, or similar at Level 2 or above are desirable. Basic knowledge of SEND frameworks, individual support plans or behaviour support strategies would be useful, along with experience as a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant or classroom volunteer.
An understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures within a school environment is desirable, as well as confidence supporting small groups or one-to-one interventions under teacher guidance.
About this employer
We are the UK’s leading provider of sport, physical activity and childcare to primary age children and have expert understanding of primary school needs. We operate as an extension of school staff resources, providing invaluable support, and are an approved, trusted resource for the PE and sport premium. We offer career pathways for Activity Professionals, Playworkers, PE teachers, Teaching Assistants and Specialist Teaching Assistants.
https://www.premier-education.com (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- After successful completion of the apprenticeship, there may be opportunities to progress into roles such as Specialist Teaching Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, SEN Support Assistant, Classroom Assistant or Pastoral Support Assistant
- The apprentice may also progress into further training in education, childcare, special educational needs support, behaviour support or teaching
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE EDUCATIONWISE ACADEMY LTD
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000031694.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026